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TNF inhibitors in Early Axial SpA Spares NSAID Use
In a 2 year follow-up of the DESIR cohort of patients with early inflammatory back pain (627 patients), TNF inhibitor use was associated with a significantly greater decrease in the median NSAID intake (from 54.9 to 1.9 in TNFi pts versus from 41.9 to 22.3 in non-TNFi pts, p0.05).
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Ustekinumab Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis: 2 Year SUMMIT Trial Results
615 adults with active PsA were randomized to ustekinumab (45mg group or 90mg group) or placebo with crossover at 24 weeks.
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Ustekinumab Bests TNF Inhibitors for Biologic Survival in Psoriasis
Using drug survival as a global measure of a drug's effectiveness, safety and tolerability, UK investigators used a national pharmacovigilance cohort (British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register) to compare survival rates of the first biologic used in 3,523 biologic-naiv
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FUTURE 2 Trial Shows Secukinumab to be Effective in Psoriatic Arthritis
Lancet today published the results of the phase 3, prospecitive, multinational, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of secukinumab (an anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody) in active psoriatic arthritis.
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Inflammatory Ocular Disease in US Veterans
A retrospective review of 1285 US male veterans showed the prevalence of inflammatory eye disease to be 2%. Uveitis was most common (most being anterior uveitis), followed by keratitis, scleritis, episcleritis, and acute ischemic optic neuropathy.
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NICE Judges Apremilast Less Cost Effective than TNF Inhibitors
The National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence has turned down Otezla for coverage under the U.K. healthcare system for psoriatic arthritis.
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Conservative Equals Surgical Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
A randomized controlled trial of compared the outcomes of surgical decompression or physical therapy in 169 lumbar spinal stenosis patients. After two years, intention-to-treat analyses revealed no difference between groups.
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Psoriatic Arthritis Occurs in 10-15% of Psoriasis Patients
Estimates on the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis among psoriasis patients has varied widely, ranging from 5-40%. A systematic review of the literature shows that prevalence of undiagnosed PsA was 15.5% when all studies were considered and 10.1% when only epidemiological studies were consi
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Frequency of Infliximab Infusion Reactions
A Canadian registry shows that in community-based infusion clinics, infusion reactions to IFX are uncommon and mild to moderate in nature.
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DSB: EULAR 2015 Safety Reports
Biologic Use Curtails Sepsis Events. An analysis of the German biologics register, RABBIT, examined the effect of current biologic therapy on future risk of sepsis (#OP0161).
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The Risk of Uveitis in AS Treated with TNF Blockers
Claims data analysis of 2115 ankylosing spondylitis patients without uveitis who started TNF inhibitor therapy revealed that the median time to the onset of uveitis was longest for those taking adalimumab (243 days), followed by etanercept (182 days) and infliximab (144 days). 
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The EULAR 2015 Report- Friday
These abstracts and presentations were presented 12 June at the EULAR 2015 annual meeting.
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EULAR Recommendations on Imaging for SpA
A EULAR task force of 21 rheumatologists and radiologists from 11 countries examined 12 clinical/imaging questions and reviewed the literature to establish consensus on imaging for spondyloarthritis in practice.
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The EULAR 2015 Report - Wednesday
EULAR 2015 started the afternoon of Wednesday June 10th.
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Rheumatic Manifestations of Chikungunya Virus
Chikungunya is a new viral cause of fever and arthritis, especially in endemic areas like the caribbean. The chikungunya epidemic has grown significantly in the Western hemisphere with a total of 1,247,000 cases and 183 fatalities since
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Tofacitinib Equal to Etanercept in Psoriasis, but only at 10 mg bid Dose
A 12-week, phase III, non-inferiority, randomized clinical trial of tofacitinib, etanercept or placebo was conducted in 1106 patients with plaque psoriasis.
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Amgen Halts Development of Brodalumab
IL-17 inhibitors are being developed for treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis. Broadalumab has been in phase II & III trials and been developed by a partnership between Amgen and Astra-Zeneca.
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Adalimumab Gets FDA Orphan Drug Status for Use in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
The FDA has granted adalimumab (Humira) orphan drug designation for the investigational treatment of moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) (Hurley Stage II and Hurley Stage III disease).
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The National Prevalence of HLA-B27 in the U.S.
HLA-B27 is found 6.1% of the US population, but with is seen in >90% patients with ankylosing spondylitis. HLA-B27 increases risk of spondylitis, uveitis and heart block. [Image credit: "HLA-B*2705" by Pdeitiker - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons]
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Patient perspectives in the management of psoriasis and PsA
A psoriasis population survey finds psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis in 1.4%-3.3% of North American and European households. Many (27-53%) rated their disease as “severe”.
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